Hydrangea plant named ‘SMNHPRZEP’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Hydrangea  plant named ‘SMNHPRZEP’, characterized by its upright and somewhat outwardly spreading plant habit; strong and sturdy stems; freely flowering habit; showy inflorescences with sterile flowers that are initially white in color and becoming hot pink to red in color; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Hydrangea paniculata.

Cultivar denomination: ‘SMNHPRZEP’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct Hydrangea plant,botanically known as Hydrangea paniculata and hereinafter referred to bythe name ‘SMNHPRZEP’.

The new Hydrangea plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Grand Haven, Mich. The objective of thebreeding program was to develop new early-flowering Hydrangea plantswith strong stems and large and attractive inflorescences.

The new Hydrangea plant originated from an open-pollination in July,2004 of Hydrangea paniculata ‘Little Lamb’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat.No. 15,395, as the female, or seed parent and an unknown selection ofHydrangea paniculata as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Hydrangeaplant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single floweringplant from within the progeny of the stated open-pollination in acontrolled environment in Grand Haven, Mich. in July, 2009.

Asexual reproduction of the new Hydrangea plant by softwood cuttings ina controlled environment in Grand Haven, Mich. since June, 2010 hasshown that the unique features of this new Hydrangea plant are stableand reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexualreproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Hydrangea have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘SMNHPRZEP’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘SMNHPRZEP’ as a new and distinct Hydrangeaplant:

-   -   1. Upright and somewhat outwardly spreading plant habit.    -   2. Strong and sturdy stems.    -   3. Freely flowering habit.    -   4. Showy inflorescences with sterile flowers that are initially        white in color and becoming hot pink to red in color.    -   5. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Hydrangea differ from plants of the female parent,‘Little Lamb’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hydrangea are larger than plants of ‘Little        Lamb’.    -   2. Plants of the new Hydrangea have stronger stems than plants        of ‘Little Lamb’.    -   3. Plants of the new Hydrangea and ‘Little Lamb’ differ in        sterile flower color as plants of ‘Little Lamb’ have        pink-colored sterile flowers.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of Hydrangeapaniculata ‘Limelight’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,874. Inside-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Hydrangea differed primarilyfrom plants of ‘Limelight’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hydrangea were more compact than plants of        ‘Limelight’.    -   2. Plants of the new Hydrangea and ‘Limelight’ differed in        sterile flower color as plants of ‘Limelight’ had light        green-colored sterile flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the unique appearance ofthe new Hydrangea plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ from the color values cited in the detailedbotanical description which accurately describe the colors of the newHydrangea plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of atypical flowering plant of ‘SMNHPRZEP’ growing in an outdoor nursery.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of typicalinflorescences of ‘SMNHPRZEP’.

Plants used in the photographs were four years old.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used for the following description were grown during the summerin three-gallon containers in a polypropylene-covered shadehouse inGrand Haven, Mich. and under cultural practices typical of commercialHydrangea production. During the production of the plants, daytemperatures ranged from 18° C. to 27° C. and night temperatures rangedfrom 5° C. to 10° C. Plants of the new Hydrangea were two years old whenthe photographs and description were taken. Plants were overwintered ina polyethylene-covered greenhouse. In the following description, colorreferences are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart,1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   Botanical description: Hydrangea paniculata ‘SMNHPRZEP’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Hydrangea paniculata ‘Little Lamb’,            disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,395.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unknown selection of Hydrangea            paniculata, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—By softwood cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 18 days at            temperatures about 24° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three            months at temperatures about 24° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness; fibrous; creamy white            to brown in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Perennial deciduous shrub;            upright and somewhat outwardly spreading plant habit; broad            inverted triangle; strong and sturdy lateral branches;            freely branching habit with about 29 lateral branches            developing per plant; vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 56.2 cm.        -   Plant diameter or area of spread.—About 78.2 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 44 cm to 76 cm. Diameter:            About 7 mm. Internode length: About 4.3 cm to 4.7 cm.            Texture: Pubescent. Strength: Strong, sturdy. Aspect: About            35° to 45° from vertical. Color, developing: Close to 147C            overlain with close to 176B. Color, developed: Close to 138B            overlain with close to 199A.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.        -   Length.—About 10 cm.        -   Width.—About 5.6 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Apex.—Acuminate.        -   Base.—Obtuse to cuneate.        -   Margin.—Serrulate; slightly undulate.        -   Texture, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Texture, lower surface.—Slightly pubescent.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 144A.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146B. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A tinged with            close to 146C; venation, close to 146C. Fully expanded            leaves, lower surface: Close to 138B; venation, close to            146D.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 1.3 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.            Texture, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous. Texture, lower            surface: Slightly pubescent. Color, upper surface: Close to            147B. Color, lower surface: Close to 146C.-   Inflorescence & flower description:    -   -   Flower type and habit.—Single sterile and fertile flowers            arranged on large terminal panicles; flowers face upright            and outwardly.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Continuous flowering throughout            the summer into the autumn Grand Haven, Mich.        -   Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit; at least 100            fertile flowers and at least 100 sterile flowers develop per            inflorescence.        -   Inflorescence height.—About 15 cm.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 17.7 cm.        -   Flower diameter, fertile flowers.—About 3 mm.        -   Flower depth (height), fertile flowers.—About 2 mm.        -   Flower diameter, sterile flowers.—About 3.5 cm.        -   Flower depth (height), sterile flowers.—About 2.5 cm.        -   Flower buds, fertile flowers.—Length: About 3 mm. Diameter:            About 2.5 mm. Shape: Orbicular, lobed. Color: Close to 155A.        -   Flower buds, sterile flowers.—Length: About 1.2 mm.            Diameter: About 1.2 mm. Shape: Orbicular, lobed. Color:            Close to 155A.        -   Petals, fertile flowers.—Arrangement: Four in a single            whorl. Length: About 1 mm. Width: About 1.25 mm. Shape:            Ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Texture,            upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When            opening, upper surface: Close to 145D. When opening, lower            surface: Close to 145C. Fully opened, upper surface: Close            to 155C tinted with close to 145C; color does not change            with development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 155C            tinted with close to 145D; color does not change with            development.        -   Petals, sterile flowers.—Arrangement: Four in a single            whorl. Length: About 1.5 mm. Width: About 1 mm. Shape:            Elliptic to ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Rounded to slightly            acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:            Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening, upper and lower            surfaces: Close to 145C. Fully opened, upper surface: Close            to 155C tinted with close to 145C; color does not change            with development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 155C            tinted with close to 145D; color does not change with            development.        -   Sepals, fertile flowers.—Quantity per flower: Five in a            single whorl. Length: About 1 mm. Width: About 2 mm. Shape:            Fused. Apex: Acute. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Texture,            upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When            opening, upper surface: Close to 145A. When opening, lower            surface: Close to 145C. Fully opened, upper surface: Close            to 145A. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 145B.        -   Sepals, sterile flowers.—Quantity per flower: Four in a            single whorl. Length: About 1.6 cm. Width: About 1.6 cm.            Shape: Elliptical to obovate. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Obtuse to            slightly acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening, upper and            lower surfaces: Close to 145C. Fully opened, upper surface:            Close to 155C overlain with close to 145C; color becoming            closer to 67C and eventually close to 58A with development.            Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 155C slightly shaded            with close to 145D; color does not change with development.        -   Pedicels, fertile flowers.—Length: About 1 mm. Diameter:            About 1 mm. Angle: About 5° to 90° from inflorescence axis.            Strength: Strong, sturdy. Texture: Slightly pubescent.            Color: Close to 145D.        -   Pedicels, sterile flowers.—Length: About 1.9 cm. Diameter:            About 1.1 mm. Angle: Erect to about 45° from inflorescence            axis. Strength: Strong, sturdy. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.            Color: Close to 145D.        -   Reproductive organs, fertile flowers.—Stamens: Quantity per            flower: About eight. Filament length: About 0.75 mm.            Filament color: Close to 145A. Anther shape: Lanceolate.            Anther length: About 1 mm. Anther color: Close to 145A.            Pollen amount: None observed. Pistils: Pistil quantity per            flower: One. Pistil length: About 1 mm. Stigma shape:            Club-shaped. Stigma color: Close to 145A. Style length:            About 0.75 mm. Style color: Close to 145A. Ovary color:            Close to 155A and 145B.        -   Reproductive organs, sterile flowers.—Stamens: Quantity per            flower: About eight to ten. Filament length: About 2.5 mm.            Filament color: Close to 155C. Anther shape: Lobed. Anther            length: About 1 mm. Anther color: Close to 162B. Pollen            amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 155B. Pistils: Pistil            quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 1 mm. Stigma            shape: Club-shaped. Stigma color: Close to 145A. Style            length: About 0.75 mm. Style color: Close to 145A. Ovary            color: Close to 155A and 145B.        -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit development has not been            observed on plants of the new Hydrangea.-   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Hydrangea have not been    observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Hydrangea    plants.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Hydrangea have been observed    to have good garden performance by exhibiting good tolerance to rain    and wind; to be resistant to sun scald; and to tolerate temperatures    ranging from about −32° C. to about 36° C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Hydrangea plant named ‘SMNHPRZEP’as illustrated and described.